I’m taking action. I need to lose at least 15 lbs.! Even tho I am in the best shape of my life, round (blame it on 5 decades of living), I have accepted an invite to the 90 Day ViSalus weight Challenge.

For those that know me, you know that I’ve always been one to talk about the importance of eating right, exercising, and using supplements. You also know I am very inconsistent with this over the years … and most recently at Friday’s lunch where we dined at California Pizza Kitchen on a 1500 calorie and 23 dollar lunch.

One of these days soon has been my mantra. So it goes … decades have passed and I find myself at the most I’ve ever weighed, 206 lbs. I should be about 185.

A friend told me about this 90 day challenge. I’m not a huge fan of a meal replacement shake, the fact is I need something simple and easy. So I looked at it. It tastes like CAKE BATTER! Good. Costs are just$1.50 a day … I will be saving almost $10 a day I’ve been averaging for eating lunches out.

The science behind it is backed by some very impressive researchers, Michael Deidman, M.D. and Steven Witherly, M.D. They have developed the most optimized nutritional supplement: proteins for longer lasting hunger control, LOW carbs and sodium, pre-biotics, 23 vitamns and minerals, diabetic friendly and a Kosher product.

Anyway, ViSalus Sciences has put together a cool marketing challenge. Anyone referring just 3 others to take the challenge receive their product for free. It’s a great example of a company that “gets” the viral power of digital technologies.

Here’s my goal. 15 lbs within the next 90 days. I’ll do a shake each day and munch on veggies or fruit instead of candy etc. I don’t have the guts to share pictures, but I will report my progress. And of course, if you wish to join the challenge, I would be pleased if you joined my team. I have some cool stuff planned for those that do. C’mon, this is easy, will save you money, and we’ll all look and feel better.

NOTE: 20,000 people joined the challenge last month … indicative of its appeal and the HUGE market there is for a program such as this.

This week I finished my Master’s in Adult Education and Training with the University of Phoenix. I took the majority of the program online. It was a great experience as the design of the degree allowed me to study and apply many of the ideas and interests relative to new medias I have been involved in over recent years.

Using the action research project I studied, I plan to develop and offer training in using digital portfolios using social medias. There is so much misunderstanding about these mediums. Most have not kept up with the pace of technology; this includes users and providers. Ignorant beliefs pervade the professional community. I hope to help dispel those beliefs and provide instruction for those willing to learn and apply new technologies in ways that will help successfully connect and engage people.

I’m grateful the UOP online model allowed and even encouraged us, as students, to explore the topics in ways that directly related to our professional lives.

It is with some relief I find I now have time and energy to re-dedicate to a number of personal things that I’ve not been able to do.

I do not plan to “walk” in the graduation. I do plan to reflect and share some perspectives on education, life-long learning, and some of the stories of the past couple of years on my Master’s journey. Thanks to all the great instructors in the program and congrats to all my classmates.

July 28, 2009 I got up early to take a hike I had done numerous times as a teenager, only this time, at 50, I would only be going one way … descending Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs’ most famous landmark and America’s mountain. Katherine Lee Bates was inspired on her trip up the Peak to write America the Beautiful. I knew that I was in no shape to hike up it, but I had no idea I really wasn’t in shape to hike DOWN it either!

Pikes Peak is a 13.5 mile hike, one way, and the longest base to summit 14ner of the 56 peaks in Colorado that exceed 14 thousand feet. I had hiked it up and down in a day numerous times 30+ years ago. I knew that the hike down is tough on the body. But I thought I could do this.

It was a great day. I have some video I will put together and post later. Here are the pictures from this day.

Here is a picture of a snow-capped Pikes Peak from Pikes Peak Avenue, downtown Colorado Springs. I took this March 14, 2004.

Entering Manitou Springs that morning. 6:35 A.M.

The Cog Railway depot. Hoping at this point to get on as I had to go standby.

Didn’t take too long before we were above timberline, approximately 11,000 feet.

Arrival Summit Pikes Peak, 14,110 feet. It was just after 9 A.M. Cold. Upper thirties and with the wind chill it had to be in the twenties. My teeth started chattering! Hadn’t experienced that since moving from Colorado over 2 years prior.

The photo op. In the backpack was 4 bottles of Smart water, warm-up pants (which I threw on shortly after this), power bars, blueberries, rain gear.

The trail head.

Clouds forming. Just starting.

Read on ….

At 13,300. Starting to feel better. Summit in background.

Met a number of nice people this day. This guy had an unbelievable story. Something about doing this for his parents who had passed. He was not prepared. Had survived the night at the A-frame after getting drenched in a thunderstorm. Notice shoes! He was out of water and food. I gave him one of my Smart Water liters and the rest of the blueberries. He was very appreciative.

12,700 ft. 4 miles from the summit. It has taken me almost an hour and a half to this point. I started to realize I had really underestimated how long this was going to take me. Although, it was at this elevation I started feeling a lot better. Only 9.5 miles to go.

Really awesome to be literally in the clouds as they started to form.

Looking back up the trail.

By the time I got to timberline (about 11 thousand feet), the clouds were moving in. The concern for hikers of 14ners is lightening. I was relieved to be below timberline.

The A-Frame.

Peaceful trail. Approx 10,800 ft.

I did not have a map with me. First, I had been on this mountain and trail many times before. And with directions such as these, who needs a map! Notice the arrow to the Springs.

Barr Camp! Half way point. 10,200 ft. Nice accommodations for overnight stays.

Finally, the first site of the end. Below you can make out the Cog Railway station. Unfortunately, I still had about 4 miles to go, with the final 3 miles coming down Manitou Mountain, a steep final part of the trail. Lots of switchbacks that took me forever.

Two major thunderstorms with hail and over 7 hours later, I got back to the car. I didn’t take any pictures of the last part as I was exhausted! And I had to book it to Denver to catch my return flight that night back to Phoenix. I had less than 3 hours to get there. I took a shower, 800 mg of ibuprofen, and threw my drenched clothes and shoes in my bag.

I am so glad I made time to do this hike. It brought back so many memories. On another post, I will talk about my unsuccessful attempt to find the Penny Tree, the stump I used to place coins in on every climb. The last time I saw it was back in the early 1980s. That forest has seriously changed since then!

I hope to someday and return to ascend the Peak. That will take some training.

For now, my descent provided me the opportunity to see America’s mountain once again.

God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another. — William Shakespeare

How true. I find that aging has helped have the courage to be who I really am. And I value finding that in others. Being genuine also permits acceptance of others as they really are. I am committing 2009 to being genuine and finding like people.

LISTEN
I have realized I need to listen more, talk less. To this I look forward to 2009 being one that by listening, I will find a deeper level of meaning and understanding. I plan to listen more closely to others and to God. We are advised to Be Still, and know that I am God. When surrounded by all the “noise,” I plan to be still.

CLARITY
I am expecting 2009 to bring clarity in various areas of my life. These areas include professional endeavors or directions, spiritually, relationships, and some past issues that I have to find closure for.

2009 promises to be a significant year. Even more so if focus is kept real, listening, and clear.

This morning I got up early, as usual, went over to Dutch Bros. coffee and got a large regular with cream and sugar. I’ve spent the rest of this morning reading. I found a very thought provoking article, recommended by Chris Connelly whom I follow on Twitter.

Your 3 Goals for 2009 was written by Chris Brogan. A few years ago, he decided to try to set goals for the year more effectively. He describes it like this:

If you want to try the process, it works something like this: think of how you want to be successful in 2009. Then, try to think in even broader terms. Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on.

What a cool idea. As I think about three words that encompass this year’s opportunities and challenges, I’ve come up with these for me in 2009:

Genuine, Listen, Clarity.

I will let you in on the thinking behind them later. Read his article and as you begin 2009 today, I encourage you to start with your own three words. Looking forward to what 2009 has to bring for me and you.

Feel free to share your words. Which describe your coming year’s focus?